Eco-friendly roof and construction options

The green world is coming at an amazingly fast pace. According to Dodge Data and Analytics’ World Green Building Trends 2018 report, green building is officially a “global trend” and energy conservation is a priority for people across the globe. In the U.S., the shift is being driven by consumer demands, followed by environmental regulations and healthier buildings. Even better: the trend is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. With more people building green, more people are also developing innovative, new and environmentally friendly materials to take advantage of this growing market opportunity. So, let’s see what are some of the environmentally friendly options we have for our roofs:

Solar Tiles

They offer clean, renewable energy with curb appeal. We all know that we live in times where any way we have of producing our own energy and making the most out of it could be priceless. Solar panels have been around for some time, but nowadays, it is not actually necessary to install huge panels on your roof in order to enjoy these benefits.

Solar roof shingles are small, custom shingles designed to blend almost seamlessly with traditional shingles. Not only are these shingles aesthetically appealing, but they also function as solar panels and are very durable to keep your roof protected from the elements.

One of the biggest benefits of solar tiles is how easy their installation is. Of course, they are much easier to install than solar panels that are almost the size of an SUV. So, these shingles are installed over new or existing roof decks, and an electrician or roofer connects the units to each other and to the home’s electrical system.

Perfect for environmentally conscious homeowners who plan to re-tile their roofs anyway, they will probably find solar shingles especially appealing. Solar shingles not only provide a renewable energy source and cuts in energy bill costs, but they also provide waterproof protection for the roof.

Prices should be comparable to other high-end roofing solutions. With solar shingles, going solar doesn’t have to mean cutting into the electricity supply. Most solar shingle systems are connected to existing power supplies, which come back online after sunset and on particularly cloudy days.

Bringing back natural materials

In the past, only high-end homes were made from natural materials. But today you can find many products and techniques that incorporate natural materials. Many of these techniques were used historically and are now making a comeback.

Bamboo could be the sustainable alternative to wood. Although it looks aesthetically similar, bamboo is actually a grass, which means that bamboo regenerates very quickly compared to trees. In fact, bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants on the planet – depending on the type of bamboo and the region, sometimes up to 90 centimeters a day!

It is not only its rapid growth that makes bamboo sustainable. For construction purposes, bamboo can be harvested up to every 3 years; in contrast, trees can only be harvested every 25-50 years (depending on the species). The increased popularity of bamboo has allowed many forests to regenerate.

Prefabricated techniques are trend-setting

Structural insulated panels are one of the most airtight and well-insulated building systems on the market today. Because of the airtight seal, they are ideal for green building. An airtight home requires less energy to heat and cool and allows for better air quality control. Some panels are certified to ensure that the wood used for the panels comes from sustainably managed forests. There are many advantages to building your home with these types of panels.

It can help you to save energy, since up to 40% of a home’s heat loss is due to air leakage. This problem is solved by creating an upper deck with minimal air exchange and high thermal resistance. It is also excellent for saving resources. Foam and fiberboard, its two main components, require less energy and raw materials to produce than other building structures. They have the power to reduce waste generated during housing construction to ensure the most efficient use of material.

They also help to provide better air control. A home built with insulated panels provides better control over indoor air quality, as the airtight building envelope minimizes or eliminates unfiltered incoming air. As for fresh air entering the home, controlled ventilation filters out pollutants, toxins and allergens while dehumidifying the air to reduce the potential for mold growth. In addition, they are free of harmful chemicals, which is another potential risk to the air quality of buildings that do not use insulation boards.

Living Roofs

Living roofs, or green roofs, are defined as vegetated roofs consisting of “a waterproofing membrane, a growing medium (soil) and vegetation (plants) on top of a traditional roof.” It’s a bit of a rigid definition, but the result is spectacular.

They are extremely durable. Properly installed green roofs double the number of years it normally takes before a roof needs to be replaced compared to traditionally installed roofs. The average life expectancy of a living roof is about 40 years, compared to an average life expectancy of 17 years for a conventional roof. Besides, they provide energy efficiency:

A study published by the National Research Council of Canada showed that in the summer months, a green roof reduces fresh air loss by 70-90%, thus reducing air conditioning consumption. Green roofs can act as an insulating layer and reduce heat flow (heat transfer through the roof of a building) by up to 72%.

Living roofs also help improve air quality. Plants living on green roofs, especially leafy plants and flowers, can capture air pollution and filter toxic gasses from the air. The energy efficiency factor of green roofs also reduces energy demand, thereby reducing the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere. They are also excellent for noise reduction. The benefits of green roofs showed that green roofs have excellent sound insulation, especially for low frequencies. Green roofs can reduce exterior sound penetration by 40-60 decibels.

You also find an Increased home value, since you’ve increased the efficiency, you increased the value the property has.Green roofs are a sign of the popular green building movement. For this reason, a living roof can help with home sales, leases and lower tenant turnover. It doesn’t matter which eco-friendly choice you use, you will have a great amount of benefits that are worth the try.